Dual action magnetic switch



966 R. E. STEWART ETAL 3,267,234

' DUAL ACTION MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 2 PEG. 2 II" 29 WI, r-

INVENTORS. RICHARD E. STEWART HERMANN SCHIMPF w zm ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

1966 R. E. STEWART ETAL DUAL ACTION MAGNETIC SWITCH Aug. 16,

Filed Feb. 1, 1965 United States Patent 3,267,234 DUAL ACTION MAGNETIC SWITCH Richard E. Stewart, Hartsdale, N.Y., and Herman Schimpf, Fail-field, Conn., assignors to American Ma- ;hine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Filed Feb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,367 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) This invention relates to magnetically actuated switches and more particularly to a dual action rocker arrangement which operates one of a pair of magnetically operated reed switches by pressing at one end of the switch actuator and a second reed switch by pressing at the other end of the actuator. This result is effected when the actuator moves a permanent magnet in alternate directions near the first or sec-0nd reed. By thus varying the proximity of a source of magnetic flux, generated by the permanent magnet, the leaf or reed of the reed switch which is contiguous to the magnet and has its contact normally biased in one position, changes its electrical contact position.

It is an object of the invention :to provide .a novel dual action rocker switching device which employs magnetically actuated reed switches.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dual action device, incorporating magnetic reed switches, adapted for use in conjunction with an illuminated readout indicator.

It is another object of the invention to provide bi-directional or a dual action switch wherein pressing on one end of the switch actuator actuates at least one switch and pressing on the other end actuates at least one other switch.

Another important object is to provide a dual action panel-mounted rocker switch with an illuminated readout wherein depressing one end of the switch actuator counts or adds the number entered and depressing the opposite end of the switch provides a subtracting function.

Another object is 'to provide a dual action or rocker switch which is retained in a neutral position and may be depressed so as to actuate one of two alternate reed switches.

Another object is to provide in a switch device of the kind described, a novel, simple and dependable construction having rapid-assembly and disassembly characteristics.

The foregoing and additional objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification taken together, with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of switches showing one of the pair as partially in section.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken on lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

(FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the diagonal line 55 of FIG. 3.

Briefly, the invention comprises a switch having bidirectional pivotable actuation which is retained in a neutral position and may be rocked or pivoted by pressing at one or the other end thereby actuating independent switches. The switch may accommodate a read-out device whose illuminated indicator is visible through the switch actuator. The actuator is also advantageously adapted for receiving and removably retaining a suitable label to designate the function of the switch. As an entity,

the switch of the invention provides an extremely compact and versatile unit which is readily adaptable for mounting compactly in banks on panels containing a substantial number of such switches.

Referring to the drawing, the assembly comprises an actuator or key support housing or base 10 which is formed of any suitable material preferably metal, e.g., aluminum. In the embodiment illustrated the base "10 is appropriately contoured to receive guide elements i1-1, read-out device 12 which fits Within said guide elements and read-out printed circuit board assembly 25. Mounting screws 29 or any comparable appropriate means may be used to secure elements 11 and the circuit board to the base 10.

The read-out device 12 is connected in a conventional manner into the printed circuit board 25 as by plugging it in while being guided into appropriate location by the spaced guide elements 11. To assure accurate alignment of read-out 12 in guides 11, a suitable tongue 15 may be formed in elements 11 to mate with a corresponding groove in read-out 11 2. Read-out devices which may be employed and which, as such, form no part of the present invention, are such as those available commercially as Model 4W from Non-Linear Systems, Inc., of, Del Mar, California, and comprise a low voltage digital read-out.

Also mounted on base 10 as by screws 28, are left and right reed support blocks 20 and 21. Preferably, blocks '20 and 21 prior to mounting already house therein, in appropriate formed recesses 33 and 34, reeds 23 and 24, respectively. Also formed in support blocks 20 and 21 are reed switch common contact terminal return holes or openings 35 and 36 through which leads 3 7 are passed. Reeds 23 and 24 are electrically connected to the printed circuit board assembly 25 by leads 37, 38 and 39 by connectors 40.

Illustrated at 18 is a pivotable lever block. A permanent magnet 17 is appropriately fitted into the magnet lever block 18 and is movable, in reciprocating motion therein, contiguous to one or the other of reed switches 23 and 24. The lever block 18 is fitted between the parallel spaced reed blocks 20 and 21, being secured thereto in pivoting relationship by pin 22. Pivot pin 22 passes through a hole 43 in block 18 and through holes 411 and 42, respectively, formed in blocks 20 and 21. Pin 22 is confined against removal as hereinafter described when the switch is assembled. While a permanent magnet is preferred as the source of flux to move the switch contacts it is apparent that alternate sources such as coil of wire through which current flows may be used. When a coil is used, it will be apparent that current thereto may be controlled from a position remote to the device of the invention, thereby offering a remote lock-out whereby depressing key 14 would have no effect on the switch contacts unless current was flowing in the coil.

The magnet lever 18 is provided with an actuator slot 44. The switch actuator (or rocker key) assembly 26 is appropriately mounted pivotally on and between the left and right uprights 46 and 47, respectively, of base 10.

The assembly 26 includes an actuator rocker main portion 14, of any suitable composition, but preferably plastic, which is mounted by screws 48 for rocking or seesaw motion on uprights 46 and 47 which are preferably integrally formed with base 10.

The base or main portion of the actuator 14 is formed so as to have an opening or window 30 to permit viewing 3 the illuminated digitfrom the read-out 12. Key base 14 is-provided also with a legend cavity 31 which may be molded integrally with element 14 to include label retaining cams or slots (not shown) of conventional configura tion which allow a label to be readily inserted and held therein. Fitted over the key 14, preferably in a snapin relationship, is a transparent cover 16. Extending in a direction perpendicular to the switch actuator pivot axis in at least one of the casting uprights 46 or 47 is a wire spring 16 which functions through the-spring action Olf the wire to retain assembly 26 in a neutral position and to return it to neutral position after it has been pivoted by depressing one or the other end of the assembly 2 6. Spring 16 as shown in FIG. 2 is held in a manner'tcnding to hold it in a direction parallel to the axis of the base 10 and resists movement by passing it into a close fitting hole 49 transversely extending through the upright 47. Spring 16 is retained against removal, i.e., sliding in one or the a other direction, when the assembly 26 is in place, by having its ends retained in slotted cavities 50 and 5 1, appropriately formed in actuator base 14.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the actuator base 14 is provided with spaced depending legs 52 and 56 in which are suitably formed holes 54 and 55, respectively. To elfect pivoting Olf block 1 8, the terminals of a wire or pin 19 are positioned in holes 54 and 55 and wire 19 is inserted in slot 44 of lever block 1 8 which is fitted between depending legs 52 and 53 of the main portion 14 of the actuator. Operable distancing of the magnet 17 out of the influence of the contacts ot switches 23 and 24 when the key 26 is in neutral position while allowing optimum movement of the magnet near one or the other otf switches 23 or 24 is obtained by suitable spacing of pins 19 and 22.

It will be noted that when the lever block is in neutral position the lever block 18 is positioned intermediate reed switches 23 and 24 and the field of flux from magnet 17 is beyond the distance effective to alter the contacts Olf reed switches 23 and 24. In other words, considering a horizontal plane drawn through the pivot axis of the lever 18 and axis of magnet 17 when the magnet is in neutral position, the reed switches are situated in essentially equidistant parallel planes on either side of the first plane.

In assembling the actuator assembly 26 on the uprights 46 and 47 of the base, the assembly 26 is positioned initially by inserting the Wire or pin 19 in slot 44 of lever 18 as the slot faces in an upward direction. Thereafter the key assembly 26 is moved backward thereby pivoting the upward facing lever slot otf magnet lever 18 downward and positioning the key assembly 26 so that holes 56 and 57, formed in the sides of actuator 14 are aligned with openings 58 and 59 formed in base uprights 46 and 47. Threaded holes 58 and 59 in uprights 46 and 47 for screws 48 retain the actuator in operable relationship. When the assembly 26 is aligned it is seen that the ends of the wire spring 16 are confined against removal in calvities 50 and 51 formed on each end 01f the key base 14; the magnet lever pin 19 housed in slot 44 is retained against removal by the inner walls of blocks 20 and 2 1; and pivot pin 22 housed in support blocks 20 and 21 to hold pivot lever 18 is confined or retained by the inner face of vertically depending walls 60 and 62 of key base 14. As shown, the bottom limit of walls 60, 61, 6-2 and 63 of actuator '14 are designed so as to provide a limiting stop for the rocker travel as the wall limits 60 or 61 engage base '10 which acts as the limiting stop, see FIGS. 2 and 5.

In operation of the switch of the invention, it is seen that by pressing key assembly 26 at either end, the key will pivot around the pivot axis at screw 48. Magnet lever 18, linked through magnet lever pin 19, will pivot on magnet lever pivot pin 22, moving magnet 17 in either up or down direction, thereby actuating reed switch 24 or 23 as the magnetic flux density is brought contiguous 4 V thereto, respectively. Referring to FIGS. the upper side of actuator assemlbly 26 is depressed, the magnet 17 is moved to position a and contacts orf reed switch 23 are altered by the increased flux density from the magnet; when the lower side of assembly 26 is depressed, the magnet is moved to position b and contacts of reed switch 24 are altered by the transposed flux density from the magnet brought contiguous thereto. At

rest, wire spring 16 will keep key assembly 26 in neutral position.

To insure the required pull-in and drop-out distance of magnetic reeds and to keep the magnet lever 18 travel to a minimum, the magnet 17 travel was amplified by a factor of about two by suitably positioning the distances between pivot pin 22 and actuating pin 19, i.e., for a given movement of a distance x by pin 19, the magnet 17 will be moved a distance of about two x. By means of the associated electronics and the actuation of the key, the readout device 12 mounted on printed circuit board 25 will light up a digit, visible through window 39.

The switch has varied useful applications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it may be used in conjunction with a bi-directional ring counter such as that disclosed in the pending application of M. Felcheck, Serial No. 197,662, filed April 25, 1962. When used in this manner the switch of the invention can be used in combination with an electronic bi-directional ring counter as the key device to initiate an electronic ordering and billing system as disclosed in the system of pending application of N. Alpert et al., S.N. 219,222 filed August 24, 1962, entitled, Electronic Ordering, Price Computing and Billing System. When so used a bank of switches of this kind can be used, one for each item on the menu. As items are ordered, the key is actuated by pressing the lower half of the switch counting up the desired number of items. In the event of an error, the upper half of the switch may be depressed to subtract from the number of items added previously when the lower half of the switch was depressed.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications, alterations or substitutions may be made' to the disclosure presented without departing from the intent and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetically actuated push type switch comprising a switch housing support, a bi-directional switch actuator pivotally mounted on said support and capable of bi-directional movement from a neutral position, means tending to hold said actuator in a neutral position, and to return it to the neutral position after it has been depressed and released, a first magnetically responsive reed switch, a second magnetically responsive reed switch spaced from said first switch, and a magnet connected to said actuator and positioned between said switches, and pivoted by movement of said actuator when one or the other end of said actuator is depressed, said magnet when in a neutral position being located so as not to influence the contacts of the reed switches when said actuator is in the neutral position, and so as to alter the contacts of one of the spaced switches as the magnet is pivoted contiguous to one of the switches by correspondingly depressing said actuator.

2. A magnetically actuated push type switch comprising a switch housing support, a bi-directional switch actuator pivotally mounted on said support and capable 3 and 5, when said lever, said lever being connected to and pivotable in opposite directions corresponding to movement of said actuator when said actuator is depressed, said magnet being located in a parallel intermediate plane between parallel planes passing through the axes of said spaced reed switches and so as not to influence the reed switch contacts as said actuator is in the neutral position, and so as to alter the reed switch contacts, respectively, as the magnetic flux density is brought contiguous to the contacts of one of said spaced switches by correspondingly depressing said actuator.

3. The device of claim 1 in combination wherein said read-out is positioned below said actuator and said actuator comprises a transparent portion through which said illuminated read-out is visible and with an illuminated digital read-out wherein depressing the actuator at one end provides a total in the numerical read-out and depressing the actuator at the opposite end subtracts and provides a remainder in said read-out.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,805 8/1962 'Binford.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

B. DOBECK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED PUSH TYPE SWITCH COMPRISING A SWITCH HOUSING SUPPORT, A BI-DIRECTIONAL SWITCH ACTUATOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND CAPABLE OF BI-DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT FROM A NEUTRAL POSITION, MEANS TENDING TO HOLD SAID ACTUATOR IN A NEUTRAL POSITION, AND TO RETURN IT TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED AND RELEASED, A FIRST MAGNETICALLY RESPONSIVE REED SWITCH, A SECOND MAGNETICALLY RESPONSIVE REED SWITCH SPACED FROM SAID FIRST SWITCH, AND A MAGNET CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR AND POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SWITCHES, AND PIVOTED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR WHEN ONE OR THE OTHER END OF SAID ACTUATOR IS DEPRESSED, SAID MAGNET WHEN IN A NEUTRAL POSITION BEING LOCATED SO AS NOT TO INFLUENCE THE CONTACTS OF THE REED SWITCHES WHEN SAID ACTUATOR IS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, AND SO AS TO ALTER THE CONTACTS OF ONE OF THE SPACED SWITCHES, AS THE MAGNET IS PIVOTED CONTIGUOUS TO ONE OF THE SWITCHES BY CORRESPONDINGLY DEPRESSING SAID ACTUATOR 